Mercedes considering Italian GP engine switch and penalties

Lewis Hamilton after his failure at Zandvoort — Photo: © LAT Images

Italian Grand Prix

Mercedes considering Italian GP engine switch and penalties

Hamilton suffered a power unit failure in practice at Zandvoort

Sam Hall

Wednesday 8 September 2021 12:33

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Toto Wolff has revealed Mercedes is considering introducing a fourth engine at the Italian Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton stopped on track during second practice with an engine at the Dutch Grand Prix last weekend.

With nine races left on the calendar, Mercedes is considering Monza as a possible venue to take a hit with grid penalties.

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Speaking at the IAA MOBILITY in Munich, team principal Toto Wolff said: "Our engines…critical component that fails, has failed at times. Well, we need to take another one in Italy this week.”

A Mercedes spokesperson has confirmed to GPFans Global that no decision had yet been taken but that Monza could present an opportunity to add a fourth engine into its pool and that should the opportunity present itself, the team would be foolish not to take it.

Although not confirming which driver could take the new unit, Hamilton's Zandvoort problems make him the likely candidate.

After sustaining damage in his Silverstone crash, Max Verstappen also faces the prospect of receiving a grid penalty during the year.

With passing less problematic at Monza than at other venues remaining on the calendar, it is possible Red Bull also views the coming weekend as an opportunity to make a similar change.

Mercedes' mission is clear

Mercedes has been victorious in five of the last seven races at Monza although success has evaded the team in each of the past two years.

Red Bull still trails by 12 points in the constructors' standings but after Verstappen regained the lead in the drivers' battle at Zandvoort, Mercedes is focused on the task at hand.

"We have nine races to go in this championship fight and the battle is only going to get more intense, but our mission is clear," said Wolff.

"As we visit Monza to finish this triple-header, we face a completely different track and challenge, which is exciting for all of us. It's a historic and unique circuit, with the lowest downforce levels of the season and most of the lap spent at full throttle. "It's also the second race weekend with the Sprint Qualifying format, so that'll add some extra spice to the mix, too. We learned lessons on the new format at Silverstone and look forward to bringing that knowledge with us into this weekend."